Method for the preparation of glace fruit



y 1940- c. LACHMVAN 2.20.9,889

METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF GLACE FRUIT Original Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ez'g. 1

FEED o/cE/e BATH I I 2 f5 .6 DERAGGER- COOKER I REHEATERS CO0KERS\ CANS 70 g J BRA/ ma 7 0 o Q Q HUM/e/F/ER j 0 1/ 0 I2 CAN SEALER CAN COOLING BATH INVENTOR CHARLES LAcHMA/v 1 AJCZ ATTORNEYS y 30. 9 0 0. LACHMAN 2.209,889

METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF GLACE FRUIT Original Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES LAcHMA/v BY Muzzy ATTORN EYS y 30, 1940- c. LACHMAN 2209,88!)

METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF GLACE FRUIT Original Filed March 12, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CHA 245s ZACH/WA 1v ATTORNEYS July 30, 1940. c LACHMAN V 2,209,889-

METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF GLACE? FRUIT Original Filed March 12, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CHARLES LAcHMA/v ATTORNEYS Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF GLAOE FRUIT Original application March 12, 1931 Serial No.

130,522. Divided and this 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,821

application August 6 Claims. (oi. 99-102) This invention relates to food processing, and particularly to a method of producing and packaging glac fruit, fruit peel, and the like, this being a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 130,522, filed March 12, 1937.

Among the objects of this invention are: to

provide a method of processing glazed fruits and.

the like which will produce a moist and tender product; to provide a. method of the character described which will permit marketing the product in sealed containers, but without syrup; to provide a process which permits the product to be drained of excess liquid without bacterial or other contamination, and to provide a process whose product is of superior quality and at a saving in both processing and shipping costs.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with theforegoing, will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying and utilizing my novel method. It is therefore to be understood that my method is applicable to other apparatus, and that I do not limit myself, in any way, to the apparatus of the present application, as I may adopt various other apparatus embodiments, utilizing the method, within the scope of the appended claims.

Briefly as to apparatus, my invention comprises a dicer of unique design combined with a de-ragger, apparatus for cooking and otherwise treating the material to be processed, and apparatus for preparing the treated fruit for canning. I have illustrated the component apparatus in the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a schematic assemblage of the entire apparatus and the order of operation.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the dicer.

d Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the icer.

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of another portion of the dicer.

Figure 5 is a; schematic view, partially in section, of the de-ragger.

Figure 6 is an end view of the de-ragger, show ing the feeding mechanism therefor.

Figure 7 is a schematic view in partial section of apparatus for removing the syrup from the fruit prior to canning.

Figure 8 is a schematic end view of the same component.

My invention may be better understood by reference to the figures and details thereof.

The preparation of glac fruits, sometimes called simply candied fruits, involves the impregnating of the fruit with a sugar solution. M

Cheaper and less satisfactory candying may be done by cooking the material for only a short time, and applying to the surface a coating of heavy syrup to produce a smooth, glazed'surface.

The better product'is obtained, however, by im- 5 pregnating the entire fibre with a highly concentrated syrup, so that the fruit is fully plumped out, and an even sugary texture is obtained throughout. This requires approximately ten days of repeated cooking and cooling, while con- 10 stantly soaking in a syrup bath the density of which is gradually increased during the process.

The infiltration of sugar is accomplished more rapidly if the fruit is cut in small sections, or diced, rather than cooked Whole or in halves. It is usual practice to candy figs and cherries whole, to halve apricots, peaches and pears, to slice pineapple into conventional annular form, and to dice citron, lemon, grapefruit orange and similar fruits using only the shell, or skin.

When the peel or skin only of citrus fruits is to be used, the inner skin or rag which encloses the fruit proper is removed. vOrdinarily this is done by hand,-and since the rag and peel are very adherent, the process is slow and expensive. It 5 isggfiart of the present invention to provide for mechanically dicing the shells and separating the rag from the peel, and in consequence to make possible profitable utilization of the half-orange skins or shells which are available in quantity after the extraction of juice for sale, canned or fresh. The details of the dicing and de-ragging mechanisms will be described below.

The preparation of citrus fruit shells from which the pulp has been removed begins, referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, with a short period of boiling in plain water in cookers l, which may be of any convenient form, after which they are placed on a feed belt 2 leading to the dicer 4 which will be described in detail hereafter. After dicing the cut peels are washed in a bath 5, and the inner skin is separated from-the outer in the de-ragger 6, which also drains oil the washing water.

The diced peel is then placed in cookers 1, which may conveniently be steam-jacketed copper vats or tubs, and in which is prepared a sugar syrup. A satisfactory initial concentration of syrup may be obtained by mixing sugar and water in the proportion of one cup of water to one pound of sugar for each pound of diced fruit to be added. 4

Live steam is then admitted to the jacket, and the mixture boiled vigorously for a short period,

which may be from one quarter to one half hour. More rapid heating may be secured by passing steam through a series of pipes formed of copper or other non-corrosive metal, placed Within the vat or cooker. For ease in cleaning, the pipes may be protected from direct contact with the fruit by a metal screen having apertures therethrough of sufficient size to permit free passage of the syrup, while restraining the fruit particles. The construction of these cookers is, however, conventional, and I may adopt any form of cooker which is available.

After a short period of boiling the mixture is allowed to cool, and this process is repeated at desired intervals over a period of ten days. Each cooking period causes the sugar syrup to become more dense, and the fruit gradually absorbs the sugar throughout its entire cross-section.

It may sometimes be desirable to produce a mixture of various types of fruits. In this case, other citrus fruit shells may be prepared in the same fashion and added in the cookers. Cherries, figs, pineapple and other desired components maybe conventionally treated and added in proper proportion. The repeated cookings in the same syrup will then produce a pleasingly blended product which, after the fruit components have become sufficiently tender and are well plumped by absorption of the sugar, are ready for canning.

The mixture to be canned is brought to the proper temperature in re-heaters 9, which may be steam-jacketed preserving kettles of conventional design, and then passed into a drainer H), to be described in detail later. While in the drainer the juice is removed, but the fruit is maintained in a moist condition by a humidifier II which operates in conjunction with heating apparatus to maintain the fruit at proper canning temperature.

The drained fruit is placed in cans l2, which are immediately sealed in a can sealer M of conventional type, the cans soldered and placed in a cooling bath I5, after which they are ready for labeling and use.

I believe that I am thus the first to provide a method of packing glac fruits in hermetically sealed containers without drying and Without a syrup. It has been necessary, in the previous state of the art, to dry the fruit in ovens or the open air, which renders it noticeably less succulent and tender, or if packed in sealed containers, to surround the fruit with a sugar syrup in order to prevent contamination or spoilage, and to make possible ease of handling commercially.

Having described the process as a whole, I wish to describe with greater particularity the construction of my dicer, which is illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

A frame 2| supports a motor 22 which drives the cutting elements through the medium, of a reduction gear 24 and endless chain 25, and a second reduction gear 26 driven by an endless chain 21 from gear 28. These gears 24 and 26 are supported upon axles 29 and 30, respectively, which are journaled in conventional journal bearings 3| fixed to frame 2| in suitable position, and

carry sprockets 28 and 43 fixed relative to said ting blades 39. These cutting blades perform a dual function, since they are evenly spaced along drum 3! transversely of the feed belt 32, with a separation sufficient to permit a plurality of eccentrically positioned rings 40 having a relatively large diameter to rotate freely thereabout, the blades acting as spacers between adjacent rings. Cutting drum 3'! is so positioned that knives 39 clear the conveyor belt by a space of the order of one-eighth inch. Drum, knives and rings are detailed in Figure 3.

The axial position of the rings 40 is determined by four rollers, three of which, 4|, 42 and 44, are positioned about the circumference of the ring assembly, the fourth, 45, being positioned inside 10 the rings. Theserollers extend across the ring assembly transversely, being rotatably supported in journals 3| fixed in proper position on frame 2|.

Chain 36, which drives the feed belt 32, also passes over sprockets fixed to the external rollers 4|, 42 and 44, and the friction of the rings 40, due to roller 45, against the rollers 4 42 and 44, causes the rings to revolve. The rings are so positioned that a separation of a very small amount exists between them and the belt, and the direction and speed of travel are the same for belt and rings at their adjacent points. Chain 36 engages, and is actuated by, sprocket 43, which in turn is driven by gear 26. Hence the movements of belt 32 and the rings 40 are in synchronism.

In consequence, the shells which have been I placed on the conveyor belt are drawn between the belt and the rings, and are flattened out so that shells are partially pressed into the spaces 30 between adjacent rings. The pressure is sufficient to force the knives 39 into the surface of the peel. and the friction is sufficient to cause the shells to adhere to the rings and knives andleave the conveyor belt as they emerge from the contact area.

The eccentricity between knives and rings is such that the blades project beyond the rings opposite a resilient rubber roller 46 rotatably. mounted in journals 48 attached to frame 2|, and engage therewith with sufficient pressure to completely separate the strips oftpeel. The separated strips are held by friction between adjacent rings, and carried an additional distance around the ring circumference to contact a transverse 5r drum 41 from which project knives 49 which penetrate the peel strips at a point 59 with sufiicient force to cause the strips to adhere thereto and be transferred to drum 41, which is rotated by the same chain 36 which drives the rings 40.

A second resilient roller 5|, similar to roller 46, is positioned in journals 52 to engage knives 49 with sufficient pressure to out each strip into a number of diced sections. The separation need not be entirely complete at this point between adjacent diced particles, but must be nearly so.

Friction between the diced particles and the knife blades 49 which have produced the transverse cuts across the strips received from the circular knives 39 causes the particles to remain fixed on drum 41 until forcibly removed therefrom.. 1

For this purpose, a plurality of ejector bars 54, formed of non-corrosive metal, is provided. Each of said bars, as may be seen from Figures 2 and 4, is of rectangular cross-section, and longer than drum 47. One of said bars is disposed between each adjacent pair of blades 49, extending equally beyond each end thereof. Each bar is of such size as to fit oosely between blades 49 at the surface of drum 41, and yetbeable to force out any matter clinging to said knives if said bar is moved radially outward.

Endless coil springs 56 disposed about the ends of bars 54 protruding beyond drum- 41', holding said bars resiliently in position against. the drum, permittingv radial movement of each bar, and restoring the bars to their initial position after such radial movement.

The diced particles are permitted to adhere to the blades while drum 41 rotates about 150 past the point of contact with roller I. At this point, two rollers 55, rotatably supported by frame 2|, one at each end of and eccentric to drum 41, engage bars 54, forcing each in succession radially outward, whereby the diced peel is forced from the blades 49, falling upon an inclined delivery chute 51, and thence into a wash trough 59 which forms a part ofthewashing and de-ragging device to be next described.

Figure 5 shows a side view, partially in section, of the washer and de-ragger, while Figure 6 shows a view of the combination from the intake end.

A frame 19 supports at one end thereof a washing trough 59, which has parallel sides disposed roughly in continuation of the delivery chute 51, down which the diced segments of peel travel by gravity. The bottom 1| of trough 59 is of roughly semi-circular section in the plane of its sides.

A squirrel cage drum 12 is rotatably supported upon frame 19 directly above the trough 59.

Drum 12 is formed upon a peripherally'grooved circular element 14 keyed to a central shaft 15 revolving freely in bearings 16. 'A plurality of rods 11 are fixed in circular element 14 parallel to shaft 15 and evenly spaced concentrically thereabout. An annular plate 19 is fixed to the rod ends not held in element 14, thus forming a rigid skeleton drum similar in form to the rotor of a squirrel cage motor.

An endless conveyor is disposed over the squirrel cage 12, of such length as to hang to the bottom of wash trough 59. The conveyor is formed of a plurality of buckets 89 pivotally linked by side straps 8|.

In operation, a motor 82, positioned on frame 19, drives the squirrel cage 12 through the medium of a universal joint 84, a shaft 85 rotatably supported parallel to shaft 15 by a journal bearing' 86, a shaft pulley 81, and a belt 89 which passes around pulley 81 and the peripherally grooved element 14 which supports the cage.

Trough 59 is filled with washing water 89, into which the diced particles are directed by chute 51. Buckets 89 scoop up the particles as the motor 82 drives the squirrel cage, and elevate them to the top of the cage, where they are discharged as, the buckets turn over.

An inclined chute 99 is supported on the frame 19 in position to receive'the diced fruit discharged from -the buckets de-ragging drum 9|.

Journal bearings 92 and 94 are positioned upon and direct it into the frame 19 in such fashion as tosupport a shaft 95 at an angle to the horizontal. are disposed cross arms 96 terminally fixed to circular supporting hoops 91. About hoops 91 is stretched on open mesh metal fabric forming drum 9|, around the superior end of which is disposed a belt guide 99.

Motor 82 is so positioned upon the frame that a shaft pulley 94, disposed between the coupling 84 and said motor, is axially parallel to shaft 95,

and alined with the belt guide 99 which is concen- Upon shaft 95 I lower portion of drum 9|, and a drain pipe I'94 is provided at the bottom of said shield. Discharge chute I95 is fixed on frame 19 in registry with the inferior end of drum 9|. A pipe I96 supplies water to the interior of drum- 9| from a main supply I91.

The washed peel directed by chute 99 into the de-ragging drum 9| is not entirely separated into the diced squares, a number of portions clinging to each other, largely by virtue of the interior skin or rag. The constant rotation of drum 9| provides sufiicient mechanical agitation and friction of and between the particles to tear the rag from the shell. The mesh of drum 9| is so chosen that the rag particles, together with the residual washing water from trough 59 and that additionally supplied as a lubricant by pipe I96, drain into shield I92 and are carried, away by pipe I94, while the now completely separated and de-ragged peel particles are discharged by gravity from the inferior end of the drum down the discharge chute I95.

The amount of agitation required to completely de-rag the shells is easily learned by experience. The length of time to travel through the drum, and hence the amount of agitation, is controlled by the pitch of the shaft 95 and the speed of rotation, and it is merely a matter of mechanical expediency to properly coordinate them.

The diced peel is now ready for cooking in success of the canning operation requires special treating means. It is preferable to agitate the material thoroughly while draining to remove the .maximum quantity of syrup, the material must be kept hot at the same time, and the humidity terial under continuous heat. Consequently, the heating, draining and humidifying apparatus must function as a unit.

The straining apparatus I9, illustrated in detail in Figures '1 and 8, is supported on a frame II9 adjustable in reference to the horizontal. The adjusting means have been conventionally indicated as a pivotal frame support III at one end of said frame, and an adjustable screw H2 at the opposite end of said frame.

A closed cylindrical chamber I I4 is supported on frame I I9. Eccentrically disposed therein upon a shaft '5 is a cylindrical open mesh drum H9. The ends of shaft H5 project through the ends of chamber H4, and are rotatably journaled in bearings I I1 fixed to frame I I9. Driven gears 9 are keyed to each projecting end of shaft I I5. Endless chains I29 are disposed about gears H9 and about driving gears I2| alined therewith and keyed to an overhead intermediate driving shaft I22 rotatably journaled in bearings I24 fixed on top of frame I I9. A driving gear I25, keyed to said shaft I22, is driven by a chain I29 from a driving pinion I21 attached to a suitably positioned motor I29.

Fruit to be canned is poured from the reheatmust be such as to prevent drying out of the maers into a hopper I30 and chute IBI which leads through an intake port I32 in the superior end of chamber IN into drum H6. As the drum H6 is rotated by motor 129, the juice is strained oflf and collects in the bottom of the closed chamber I M, from which it may be removed through a drain tube I34 into any suitable receptacle, for subsequent use or other disposal.

The strained candied matter travels by gravity along the drum, finally dropping down a discharge chute I36 through an outlet port I31 into cans or other suitable containers l2. During passage along the drum, moist hot air continually surrounds the candied material. Humidifier H is a hot air heater having pipes I40 and. I4! through which air may continually pass into and out of chamber H4. Means, not shown in the figures, are provided for injecting a suitable amount of water vapor into the air passing into the strainer.

When a suitable amount of candied fruit has been weighed into the cans, they are capped, sealed, cooled, and may then be distributed to the trade. The sealer l4 and cooling bath l5 are purely conventional, and the details thereof form no part of the present invention.

Summarizing, my invention provides both a process and a mechanism for treating glac fruit; makes possible mechanical dicing and deragging of citrus fruit shells, which has hitherto been impractical; permits canning, without syrup, of candied fruits which, are succulent and tender; and is particularly adapted to preparing packaged fruit in units of thirty-five pounds or over, perfectly preserved without weight-adding and space-consuming syrup components.

I claim:

1. The method of processing glac fruit, fruit peel and the like which comprises the steps of impregnating in bulk the product to be glace'ed with hot sugar syrup, draining off, said syrup, introducing hot humidified air to said product while draining to maintain the temperature and absorbed moisture content thereof, placing the hot syrup impregnated product in containers without the addition of liquid, and hermetically sealing said containers.

2. .The method of processing glac fruit, fruit peel, and the like which comprises the steps of impregnating in bulk the product to be glaced with hot sugar syrup, simultaneously draining off saidsyrup and agitating said product, introducing hot humidified air to said product to maintain the temperature and absorbed moisture content thereof, placing the hot syrup impregnated product in containers without the addition of liquid, and hermetically sealing said containers.

3. The method of processing glac fruit, fruit peel and the like which comprises the steps of impregnating in bulk the product to be glaced with hot sugar syrup, draining off said syrup in an atmosphere substantially saturated with water vapor and at a temperature sufficient to maintain said product sterile, and canning said syrup impregnated product without additional liquid or intermediate cooling.

4. The method of processing glac fruit, fruit peel and the like which comprises the steps of impregnating in bulk the product to be glaced with hot sugar syrup, draining off said syrup in an atmosphere substantially saturated with water vapor and at a temperature sufficient to maintain said product sterile, agitating said syrup impregnated product to facilitate draining thereof, and canning said product without additional liquid or intermediate cooling.

5. A method of preparing mixed glac fruits in units of the order of magnitude of thirty-five pounds, which comprises mechanically dicing and de-ragging the component fruit elements, alternately cooking and cooling said element's over a period of from one to two weeks in a sugar solution while increasing the concentration thereof, draining off the unabsorbed syrup While simultaneously heating said fruit to a sterilizing temperature and maintaining a desired degree of humidity about said fruit, placing a desired amount of said heated fruit in suitable containers, and hermetically sealing said containers at sterilizing temperature.

6. The method of preparing glac fruit which comprises preparing an initial sugar solution of substantially a pound of sugar to a cup of water for each pound of fruit to be treated, mixing said fruit in said syrup in the recited ratio, boiling the same for a period of approximately fifteen minutes to a half hour and then cooling the mixture, repeating the boiling and cooling procedure at intervals over a period of about ten days to obtain substantial impregnation of said fruit with sugar syrup, draining the unabsorbed syrup from said mixture in a humid atmosphere and then placing the impregnated fruit in suitable containers and hermetically sealing the same.

CHARLES LACHIVIAN. 

